What time period was the happiest for most Americans?

Icky Mettle

Icky Mettle

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I’m going to go with the bulk of the 90s, particularly the second half. We had a strong economy, it was a relatively peaceful time for America in terms of international relations, we did not have the types of social media that are so prevalent today and which induce extreme anxiety among many people who are on those social media platforms, the internet was new and exciting and fun and not being used for so many terrible things, the country was not yet shaken by 9/11 which led to heightened fears and inconveniences that we’ve become accustomed to today, we were generally in a good place with regard to civil rights for people of all races (compared to where we were about 30 years prior and sadly about 30 years later), there was a great deal of optimism with regard to global affairs based on the end of the Cold War/collapse of the Soviet Union for a few years prior, we still shared common experiences (like, for example, millions of us watching the same TV show at the same time) which helped bring us together.
 
StrangePackage said:
2012-2014 was pretty good.

1994-1999 was also pretty good.
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Yep. I’m was thinking 1994-1999 when I thought of the bulk of the 90s.

And I also agree about 2012-14 being good, but I don’t think we had as high a percentage of Americans at their happiest. IMO social media was a big contributor to anxiety as well as an instigator of outrage and fear.
 
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I’ve had conversations about this with several friends. I definitely think Gen X (which I’m a part of) had it best. Which is crazy to consider, given how disaffected we were by watching “the American Dream” disintegrate while we lived our lives as latchkey kids.

That said, we grew up before the age of social media and the horrors that’s wrought on our society and politics. The worst we had to deal with was Tipper Gore and the war on drugs and Reaganomics and Iran contra and the explosion of the challenger…which all seem quaint when compared with the last decade or two.
 
Personally I'd say the mid-to-late 80s were good for me, as I was in the latter stages of high school and then college and loved those years for a number of reasons. For the nation as a whole I'd say probably the Clinton years in the 90s, as the economy was booming, not just for the wealthy but it boomed pretty well for ordinary folks too, the Cold War was over and the country was mostly at peace overseas, and it was before 9/11 and the Iraq War and all that awfulness. Domestically there was the beginnings of the rise of modern Trump Republicans with Rush and Gingrich and the Clinton impeachment mess, but that all seems fairly tame now, and with the very tragic exception of the Oklahoma City bombing it didn't really affect people's personal lives yet, although Gingrich and Rush and some others were still loathsome toads. In retrospect the 90s seem like a sunny day before the growing storm (which in 2025 is rapidly reaching Category 5 Hurricane status).
 
Agree with the OP.
Late 70’s (after the Vietnam War ended) on up to the turn of the century - 1976 up to 9/11/01.

Anytime before that (1976) was pretty sucky for a lot of different folks. The 80’s were ok in spite of Ronny Raygun. The 90’s were a boon for a lot of folks. But everything changed after 9/11. It’s been pretty sucky (again) ever since.

That 25 year span between 1976 and 2001 was the sweet spot.
We were lucky to live through those years.

I was alive for Bay of Pigs, segregation, Kennedys and King’s assassinations, Vietnam, Kent State, Nixon/Watergate, Smog, burning rivers, gas lines/shortages, the friggin Pinto, Pacer and Vega years. But then the war finally ended. SNL started in 1975, Carter was elected, Free Agency in Baseball started in ‘76… things started looking up.

It was never a complete bed of roses, but things were better for more people. 9/11 burst the balloon. It’s been downhill ever since.
 
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For me it was the twenties. Specifically my twenties. I didn't have much money but I had few responsibilities and plenty of strange. Although the other decades have been pretty good too.
 
1984-1999.

Great economy (one small recession in early '90s)
Internet was new
The bad effects of social media had not taken hold
Pre 9/11 - so relaxed security
Music was still good - bands with instruments
Seinfeld
Olympics in Atlanta - building boom
Heels basketball at its peak - Dean Smith era
Mack Brown 1.0
 
gtyellowjacket said:
For me it was the twenties. Specifically my twenties. I didn't have much money but I had few responsibilities and plenty of strange. Although the other decades have been pretty good too.
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Swing and a miss. The OP specifically talks about what was happiest for MOST Americans... of course everyone could weigh in with their own "best of times" story. And you didn't even offer a specific time period - my 20's were pretty rocking too, but that was 1979-1989. A time which wasn't all that bad for "most Americans".

When were you in your 20's? What makes that time frame "the happiest for most Americans"? Why not? Participate in the thread conversation instead of making all about yourself.
 
Ramrouser said:
1984-1999.

Great economy (one small recession in early '90s)
Internet was new
The bad effects of social media had not taken hold
Pre 9/11 - so relaxed security
Music was still good - bands with instruments
Seinfeld
Olympics in Atlanta - building boom
Heels basketball at its peak - Dean Smith era
Mack Brown 1.0
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It’s funny, when I wrote my OP I thought of including Seinfeld, as well as peak Michael Jordan.
 
Centerpiece said:
Swing and a miss. The OP specifically talks about what was happiest for MOST Americans... of course everyone could weigh in with their own "best of times" story. And you didn't even offer a specific time period - my 20's were pretty rocking too, but that was 1979-1989. A time which wasn't all that bad for "most Americans".

When were you in your 20's? What makes that time frame "the happiest for most Americans"? Why not? Participate in the thread conversation instead of making all about yourself.
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Over My Head Reaction GIF by MOODMAN
 
Mulberry Heel said:
Personally I'd say the mid-to-late 80s were good for me, as I was in the latter stages of high school and then college and loved those years for a number of reasons. For the nation as a whole I'd say probably the Clinton years in the 90s, as the economy was booming, not just for the wealthy but it boomed pretty well for ordinary folks too, the Cold War was over and the country was mostly at peace overseas, and it was before 9/11 and the Iraq War and all that awfulness. Domestically there was the beginnings of the rise of modern Trump Republicans with Rush and Gingrich and the Clinton impeachment mess, but that all seems fairly tame now, and with the very tragic exception of the Oklahoma City bombing it didn't really affect people's personal lives yet, although Gingrich and Rush and some others were still loathsome toads. In retrospect the 90s seem like a sunny day before the growing storm (which in 2025 is rapidly reaching Category 5 Hurricane status).
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When I thought about this, I wondered if my view of the happiest times for most Americans was influenced by my age. The period of 1994 through 1999 encompasses my senior year of high school, my four years of college, and my early- to mid-20s. It was the time of my life where I had the least amount of responsibility and the greatest amount of freedom. And when you’re that age and healthy you almost feel immortal.

But as fond as my memories of those times were based on where I was in life, I really do think most Americans who were alive back then were in a very good place.
 
Icky Mettle said:
When I thought about this, I wondered if my view of the happiest times for most Americans was influenced by my age. The period of 1994 through 1999 encompasses my senior year of high school, my four years of college, and my early- to mid-20s. It was the time of my life where I had the least amount of responsibility and the greatest amount of freedom. And when you’re that age and healthy you almost feel immortal.

But as fond as my memories of those times were based on where I was in life, I really do think most Americans who were alive back then were in a very good place.
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Nostalgia is a powerful drug.
 
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